SUNK WITHOUT WARNING

Waikato Times, Volume 86, Issue 13082, 17 January 1916, Page 5

SUNK WITHOUT WARNING

LOSS OF THE CLAN MACFARLANE (ALLOCS CONDUCT OF ATTACKERS.

71 MEN LEFT TO FACE DEATH

ONLY 21 HEACH MALTA

AWFUL EXPERIENCES OF THE SURVIVORS.

MANX DEATHS FROM EXPOSURE

WATERLOGGED BOATS AND MOUNTAINOUS SEAS.

Received January l(i, 5.5 n.m

LONDON, January 15

The Clan MacFarlane was to-'edoed without warning in a heavy sm,. They did not see the attacker until the crew, realising that the ship was doomed, took to the boats. The submarine then appeared on the surface, and asked Captain Swanston the name, nationality and other details of the vessel.

The submarine commander, who was a bundle of nerves, showed great restlessness and uneasiness while the submarine was shelling the Clan MacFarlane to hasten her sinking. When this was accomplished the submarine disappeared, jeaving 74 men to face death. The Europeans and Lascars were tightly packed in six boats, which were tied together. They battled with the mountainous seas for three days, the rations being reduced to half a biscuit and half a dipper of water twice daily. Two boats broke away on January 2nd, and Were not seen again. Some of the Lascars and the weaker men were by now dying from exposure. Captain Swanston's boat broke loose on January 4th, and drifted away, sharing the fate of the earlier boats. The three remaining boats, waterlogged and with their occupants nearly dead from exposure and starvation, drifted helplessly for three days and nights, tossed hither and thither in a raging sea. Eleven more Lascars died, and the survivors, who were in an utter state of collapse, gave up all hope; but on January 7th, after eight days' agony, the attracted a British ship, and were brought to Malta. The 24 survivors are now in the Seamen's Rest at Malta, little the worse for their experience.

AUSTRIAN SCOUT SUNK.

BY FRENCH SUBMARINE

Received January 16, 5.5 p.m. ROME, January 15

The French submarine Foucault torpedoed and sank an Austrian scout of the Novara type near Cattaro.

MINED AND SUNK.

SPANISH STEAMER LOST.

TWENTY-FIVE DROWNED

Received January 16, 5.5 p.m

The Spanish steamer Bayo was mined and sunk oft-Ghussirou. Twenty-five were drowned.